Dobro Jutro !! Kako ste ?
Today’s topic is as below.
Are the Japanese and Chinese languages similar ?
Japanese and Chinese are actually entirely different languages.
Japanese adopted Chinese characters called kanji many years ago.
When kanji are used ,they are incorporated into Japanese sentences.
These sentences are formed using the grammatical structures of the Japanese language without any influences from Chinese grammar.
Given that both the Japanese and Chinese use many of the same characters, if a Japanese person were to write down a kanji and show it to a Chinese person would likely understand the meaning of the character and perhaps a bit of what the writer is trying to convey. In other words,since the Japanese grammatical structures of the Japanese language without any influences from Chinese grammar.
Given that both the Japanese and Chinese use many of the same characters,if a Japanese person were to write down a kanji and show it to a Chinese person,that person would likely understand the meaning of Character and the perhaps a bit of what writer is trying to convey.In other words, since the Japanese grammatival sysytem is fully different from that of Chinese , the concept behind the character might be understood while the precise meaning the Japanese person wishes to express would only be grasped through speculation.
Simplified Chinese is now being used in Mainland China.And many of these Characters are completely different from Japanese Kanji. The Japanese themselves have also simplified some kanji.
When the Japanese started using Kanji,they attached their own used way of expressing the characters using their own language and pronunciation.When they spoke out a character using its compound or as a noun,it was and still is pronounced according to the original Chinese pronunciation.But, when the characters is used as a verb or adjective inside a Japanese sentences,it’s expressed primarily using Japanese pronunciation.In other words,there two ways of pronouncing each kanji in Japan. The chinese way is on yomi 音読み、and the modified way is called kun yomi 訓読み, this presents a difficulty for Japanese learners,or as many would agree,a considerable headache.
For example the below kanji are pronouciated in on yomi(Chinese way) “BU”on the contrary kun yomi(Japanese way) “TAKE”
Even on-yomi-evolving with Japanese speech for over more than 1700 years is no longer understood by Chinese listening to a Japanese person.It is only understood in written form,and even this means of commnication has its limits.
For many years in history, the Japanese studied Chinese culture.And so many people know about major Chinese historical events and can still understand and enjoy Chinese historical novels,Schools are also teaching the Chinese classic including poetry. Futhermore,because of historical familiarity and similarities in written expression , many Japanese and Chinese intellectuals can with a certain parallel understanding,share their knowledge and thoughts.